On December 9, 2025, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky began their journey home after a 245-day mission aboard the International Space Station.
They traveled roughly 104 million miles and completed over 3,900 laps around Earth before their Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft gently separated from the orbiting lab early today. For Kim and Zubritsky, this was their first long-duration expedition, while Ryzhikov marked his third stint in space.
During their seven-plus months in orbit, the crew conducted dozens of experiments in microgravity—from biomedicine to materials science—generating data that will shape future lunar and Mars exploration.
The team is scheduled for a parachute-assisted landing on the Kazakh steppe later today, with recovery squads on standby to secure a smooth touchdown and immediate medical checks.
Their return highlights international collaboration in space exploration, showcasing what NASA and Roscosmos can achieve together. As they descend through Earth’s atmosphere, space enthusiasts around the world are watching with anticipation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
